Edwin Johnstone says Hobart businesses are suffering because of scramble crossings

They might be handy for pedestrians, but business leaders say new scramble crossings are driving customers out of the CBD. Find out why.

New scramble crossings at the intersection of Liverpool and Elizabeth streets in Hobart CBD. Picture: Linda Higginson

Hobart businesses have been left struggling with a drop in trade, an industry leader says, and he claims new scramble crossings in the CBD are part of the problem.

Confederation of Greater Hobart Businesses chair Edwin Johnstone said the crossings, which allows pedestrians to cross the street in all directions, deterred shoppers from the CBD.

“They’ve been quite a big problem, banking up traffic as far as Patrick Street,” Mr Johnstone said.

Edwin Johnstone owner of Some Hallucination Hair is the chair of the Confederation of Greater Hobart Businesses. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“The scramble crossing are a great idea but the timing needs to be looked at.

“It’s the added congestion in the city, paired with road closures due to UTAS, it’s putting people off coming into the city.

“The confederation is calling on the council to how some flexibility with recent road closures and to really look at the scramble crossings, adjust timing or take them out”.

Cool Wine owner Tim Goddard described the new crossing as “chaotic”.

“The new scramble lights, specifically the ones on Liverpool are holding traffic up dramatically,” he said.

“While they might be handy for pedestrians, we’ve noticed traffic blocked up by three blocks

all trying to converge on Liverpool Street.

“As we know in Hobart one small hold up seem to rebound on other intersections.”

Mr Goddard said he and other business owners on Criterion Street were affected by the new crossing on the corner of Liverpool and Elizabeth Street.

“We’ve got a noticeable drop in customers in the shop,” he said.

“Since the scramble, I’d say there’s been a 20 per cent drop in foot traffic in the shop.

“I’ve spoken to five other close by businesses, they’re all reporting a drop in business

Mr Johnston said

Hobart City alderman Louise Bloomfield said she’d heard from many business owners about the “chaotic” crossings.

HCC Alderman Louise Bloomfield at Liverpool Street, Hobart. Picture: Chris Kidd

“With less public transport available due to the Metro crisis, Hobart CBD is suffering a double hit – as if you cannot access the CBD by bus, clearly accessing by car is now problematic as well,” she said.

“Each change of the lights only allows three cars to pass through the intersection which is simply not enough for the traffic load.”